A30345:436
A treatise of the covenant of grace wherein the gradual breakings out of Gospel…A treatise of the covenant of grace wherein the graduall breakings out of Gospel…
A treatise of the covenant of grace wherein the gradual breakings out of Gospel grace from Adam to Christ are clearly discovered, the differences betwixt the Old and New Testament are laid open, divers errors of Arminians and others are confuted, the nature of uprightness, and the way of Christ in bringing the soul into communion with himself ... are solidly handled / by that faithful servant of Jesus Christ, and minister of the Gospel, John Ball ; published by Simeon Ash.A treatise of the covenant of grace wherein the graduall breakings out of Gospel grace from Adam to Christ are clearly discovered, the differences betwixt the Old and New Testament are laid open, divers errours of Arminians and others are confuted, the nature of uprightnesse, and the way of Christ in bringing the soul into communion with himself ... are solidly handled / by that faithfull servant of Jesus Christ, and minister of the Gospel, John Ball ; published by Simeon Ash.
London: printed by G. Miller for Edward Brewster, 1645
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Fourthly, Consider the course of our affections, and we shall see how unsound we are towards God and our Brethren. If a thing touch our selves, our blood will quickly be in our nails: If a man know this or that a miss by us, it is very grievous, the shame of it much upbraids us: but things that offend God, and which we know he seeth amiss in us, we can let these pass nothing affected. A sign our love to him is not so sound, our fear of him, and desire of praise with him, not so unfeigned. We should be ashamed to be found often in the same fault before men: but we commit and confess the same sins daily before God, and are not confounded in our selves. If we speak but an hasty or unadvised word in the presence of some grave and godly man, that might be to our disgrace, our thoughts trouble us: but the offence against God is lightly passed over. We are circumspect to avoid the breach of penal laws, not so careful to watch against the committing of sin against God. We confess sin before God, and seem to aggravate it: but being questioned by men, we turn the fair side outward, and make the best of it.
Fourthly, Consider the course of our affections, and we shall see how unsound we are towards God and our Brethren. If a thing touch our selves, our blood will quickly be in our nailes: If a man know this or that a misse by us, it is very grievous, the shame of it much upbraids us: but things that offend God, and which we know he seeth amisse in us, we can let these passe nothing affected. A signe our love to him is not so sound, our feare of him, and desire of praise with him, not so unfained. We should be ashamed to be found often in the same fault before men: but we commit and confesse the same sinnes daily before God, and are not confounded in our selves. If we speake but an hasty or unadvised word in the presence of some grave and godly man, that might be to our disgrace, our thoughts trouble us: but the offence against God is lightly passed over. We are circumspect to avoid the breach of penall lawes, not so carefull to watch against the committing of sinne against God. We confesse sinne before God, and seeme to aggravate it: but being questioned by men, we turne the faire side outward, and make the best of it.
Lastly, Let us observe how frequently our actions are corrupted. In leaving sin many time we leave it not because we hate it as sin, but it hath often broken out to our reproach; our friends persuade us to break it off, it will be for our credit and advantage. We confess our own sins, not desiring to give glory to God, and gain a testimony of a sound heart: but because worldly wisdom doth tell us, It is best to tell our own tale, or it were double folly to make dainty of that all the world knoweth: It will not be for our credit to lessen our fault, when it is fully known; we shall loose the estimation of good men if we seek to hide, excuse, or make light of our offences. Our promises of amendment, when we have been overtaken with sin to our disgrace, have not proceeded from due consideration, nor had due execution accordingly. In the profession of religion we have oft aimed at sinister ends, as praise of men, gain, or the like, Thus in taking up good duties, as orders in our family, we often look not so much at the conscience of Gods Commandment, as at this, The eyes of men are upon us, all the world will cry shame,